Use of hydrofluoroethers as agents for dissolving aromatic compounds to make compositions

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a cosmetic composition comprising at least an aromatic compound and at least an agent for dissolving said aromatic compound, characterized in that said dissolving agent consists of perfluorinated hydrofluoroether preferably having a total number of carbon atoms not less than 5 and consisting of a perfluoroalkane chain, branched or not, cyclized or not, bound to an alkoxy group, said alkoxy group having a number of atom(s) between 1 and 7, said hydrofluoroether having a boiling point in atmospheric pressure ranging between +15° C. and +100° C. The invention enables the replacement of ethanol conventionally used in cosmetic compositions by at least one hydrofluoroether compound.

The invention relates to the field of the cosmetic industry.

Perfumes, after-shave products, toilet waters, deodorants and, in ageneral way, all perfumed cosmetic compositions are, for the most part,made up of an ethanolic solution of some titer, most often 90°,containing aromatic preparations which have been refined to a greater orlesser degree.

Ethanol is traditionally used in cosmetics' compositions as a dissolvingagent since it offers numerous advantages. It is liquid under normalconditions of pressure and temperature. It permits the dissolution ofnatural or synthetic aromatic compositions. It does not interact or doesso only very slightly with the dissolved molecules. It evaporatesrapidly on contact with the skin.

Furthermore, ethanol is a solvent with very low toxicity with respect tothe quantities used under normal usage of such cosmetic compositions.

To the knowledge of the applicant, at the present time, other solventsdo not exist which could substitute for ethanol in such compositions.

Within the context of cosmetic compositions, the use of ethanolnevertheless does have a certain number of disadvantages.

Since the use of ethanol is prohibited in certain countries, notablyMoslem countries, the use of perfumed compositions containing it is alsoprohibited.

Another disadvantage of ethanol stems from the stinging sensationassociated with its use.

Finally, it should be noted that ethanol can also cause drying of theskin and the appearance of red blotches.

The main objective of this invention is to propose a range of compoundscapable of being used as dissolving agents in cosmetic compositions,replacing the ethanol.

This objective is achieved thanks to the invention which relates to acosmetic composition comprising at least one aromatic compound and atleast one dissolving agent for said aromatic compound characterized inthat said dissolving agent is a perfluorinated hydrofluoro ether.

Therefore the invention proposes to replace ethanol by a perfluorinatedhydrofluoro ether in the cosmetic compositions.

Such fluorinated solvents offer crucial advantages when compared withethanol.

In the first place, perfluorinated hydrofluoro ethers are non-toxic andcause neither red blotches nor any stinging sensation.

Furthermore, the use of hydrofluoro ethers is not subject to anyregulation.

In addition, these fluorinated solvents are of interest because they arechemically inert and are not able to react with any of the usualconstituents of cosmetic formulations. They are volatile compoundswhich, after evaporation leave no trace whatsoever.

These fluorinated solvents are also of interest in not being subject toany regulation whatsoever and can therefore be universally used.

The fluorinated compounds proposed by the invention are, in addition,without odor or color. They can therefore be integrated into cosmeticformulations without the risk of masking the perfumes or harming thefragrance of the product or modifying its appearance.

In addition, the hydrofluoro ethers have a lower boiling point thanethanol and above all, very low heat capacity and latent heat ofvaporization which permits rapid evaporation without trace. Thesephysical and chemical properties increase the feeling of freshness feltwhen the perfumed composition is applied.

Finally they present no risk for the ecosystem and conform to the moststrict environmental regulations (potential for destroying the ozonelayer “ODP” zero and contribution to the greenhouse effect “GWP” veryslight).

It should also be noted that the fluorinated solvents proposed by theinvention are safer than ethanol since they are non-inflammable and donot have a flash point.

According to a preferred variant, said hydrofluoro ether has a totalnumber of carbon atoms that is greater than or equal to 5 and is made upof a perfluoro alkane chain, branched or not, cyclized or not andaromatic or not, bound to an alkoxy group, said alkoxy group havingbetween 1 and 7 carbon atoms, said hydrofluoro ether having a boilingpoint at atmospheric pressure of between +15° C. and +100° C.

Also, preferably, said alkoxy group of said fluoro ether has between 1and 5 carbon atoms.

Advantageously, said hydrofluoro ether has a boiling point atatmospheric pressure of between +30° C. and +80° C.

In the most preferred way, said hydrofluoro ether is chosen from thegroup made up of methoxy-nonafluorobutane (C₄F₉OCH₃) and its isomer((CF₃)₂CFCF₂OCH₃), ethoxy-nonafluorobutane (C₄F₉OC₂H₅) and its isomer((CF₃)₂CFCF₂OC₂H₅), and propoxy-undecafluoropentane (C₅F₁₁OC₃H₇).

It should also be noted that the composition according to the inventionmay include at least one co-solvent, preferably chosen from the groupmade up of ethanol and water. By co-solvent, one understands anymolecule of such a chemical nature that may be added in variablequantity to the hydrofluoro ethers for the purpose of modifying theproperties of the composition thereby obtained.

Advantageously, said aromatic compound incorporated into the compositionaccording to the invention is chosen from the groups made up of theessential oils, natural and synthetic fragrances and the resin oils.

According to the invention, the natural or synthetic aromatic compoundscan be simply diluted in the hydrofluoro ether or hydrofluoro ethers.The proportions of one or other of the constituents is not importantsince the hydrofluoro ethers have a high solvent power, associated withtheir ether group, that allows complete dissolution of aromaticcompositions.

The invention will be more easily understood from the description whichfollows of two non-limitative examples of embodiments of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

An essential oil of lavender grosso (abbreviated to HELG) isincorporated with 100 grams of methoxy nonafluorobutane (abbreviated toMNFB) by successive addition of 15 grams. After each addition oneobserves the appearance or not of a second phase, which would be aconsequence of the insolubility of the essential oil in the MNFB. Thetable below records these observations for the three temperatures tested0° C., 25° C. and 50° C.

Quantity of HELG Observations at the following No. of HELG in thesolution temperature additions MNFB 0° C. 25° C. 50° C. 1 15 g misciblemiscible miscible 2 30 g miscible miscible miscible 3 45 g misciblemiscible miscible 4 60 g miscible miscible miscible 5 75 g misciblemiscible miscible 6 90 g miscible miscible miscible 7 105 g misciblemiscible miscible

The results given in this table show that the essential oil of lavendergrosso is miscible in all proportions at and above a temperature of 0°C. in methoxy nonafluorobutane.

EXAMPLE 2

A perfumed composition is prepared by dissolving 10 of essential oil oflavender grosso in 100 grams of methoxy nonafluorobutane (10% solution).

This composition is in the form of a clear, slightly amber coloredsolution.

20 ml of this solution was sprayed onto the skin. A few seconds weresufficient for complete evaporation of methoxy nonafluorobutane. Theskin had the aromatic notes characteristic of the lavender flower.

EXAMPLE 3

An essential oil of lavender grosso (abbreviated to HELG) isincorporated with 100 grams of ethoxy nonafluorobutane (abbreviated toENFB) by successive additions of 15 grams. After each addition oneobserves the appearance or not of a second phase, which would be aconsequence of the insolubility of the essential oil in the ENFB. Thetable below records these observations for the three temperatures tested0° C., 25° C. and 50° C.

Quantity of HELG Observations at the following No. of HELG in thesolution temperature additions ENFB 0° C. 25° C. 50° C. 1 15 g misciblemiscible miscible 2 30 g miscible miscible miscible 3 45 g misciblemiscible miscible 4 60 g miscible miscible miscible 5 75 g misciblemiscible miscible 6 90 g miscible miscible miscible 7 105 g misciblemiscible miscible

The results given in this table show that the essential oil of lavendergrosso is miscible in all proportions at and above a temperature of 0°C. in the ethoxy nonafluorobutane.

EXAMPLE 4

A perfumed composition is prepared by dissolving 10 grams of essentialoil of lavender grosso in 100 grams of ethoxy nonafluorobutane (10%solution).

This composition is in the form of a clear, slightly amber coloredsolution.

20 ml of this solution was sprayed onto the skin. A few seconds wassufficient for complete evaporation of ethoxy nonafluorobutane. The skinhad the aromatic notes characteristic of the lavender flower.

EXAMPLE 5

An essential oil of peppermint (abbreviated to HEMP) is incorporatedwith 100 grams of ethoxy nonafluorobutane (abbreviated to ENFB) bysuccessive additions of 15 grams. After each addition one observes theappearance or not of a second phase, which would be a consequence of theinsolubility of the essential oil in the ENFB. The table below recordsthese observations for the two temperatures tested 12° C. and 50° C.

Observations at the Quantity following No. of HEMP of HEMP solutiontemperature additions in ENFB 12° C. 50° C. 1 15 g miscible miscible 230 g miscible miscible 3 45 g miscible miscible 4 60 g miscible miscible5 75 g miscible miscible 6 90 g miscible miscible 7 105 g misciblemiscible

The results given in this table show that the essential oil ofpeppermint is miscible in all proportions at and above a temperature of12° C. in the ethoxy nonafluorobutane.

EXAMPLE 6

A perfumed composition is prepared by dissolving 10 grams of essentialoil of peppermint in 100 grams of ethoxy nonafluorobutane (10%solution). This composition is in the form of a clear, translucentsolution.

20 ml of this solution was sprayed onto the skin. A few seconds wassufficient for complete evaporation of ethoxy nonafluorobutane. The skinhad the aromatic notes characteristic of peppermint.

EXAMPLE 7

An essential oil of sweet orange (abbreviated to HEOD) is incorporatedwith 100 grams of ethoxy nonafluorobutane (abbreviated to ENFB) bysuccessive additions of 15 grams. After each addition one observes theappearance or not of a second phase, which would be a consequence of theinsolubility of the essential oil in ENFB. The table below records theseobservations for the two temperatures tested 12° C. and 50° C.

Observations at the Quantity following No. of HEOD of HEOD solutiontemperature additions in ENFB 12° C. 50° C. 1 15 g miscible miscible 230 g miscible miscible 3 45 g miscible miscible 4 60 g miscible miscible5 75 g miscible miscible 6 90 g miscible miscible 7 105 g misciblemiscible

The results given in this table show that the essential oil of sweetorange is miscible in all proportions in ethoxy nonafluorobutane at andabove a temperature of 12° C.

EXAMPLE 8

A perfumed composition is prepared by dissolving 10 grams of essentialoil of sweet orange in 100 grams of ethoxy nonafluorobutane (10%solution).

This composition is in the form of a clear, slightly amber coloredsolution.

20 ml of this solution was sprayed onto the skin. A few seconds weresufficient for complete evaporation of ethoxy nonafluorobutane. The skinhad the aromatic notes characteristic of lavender flower.

The descriptions of examples of the invention given above do not havethe objective of restricting the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition comprising: at least one aromaticcompound; and at least one agent for dissolving said aromatic compoundwherein said dissolving agent consists of a hydrofluoro ether whereinsaid hydrofluoro ether has a total number of carbons equal to or greaterthan 5 and wherein said hydrofluoro ether is selected from the groupconsisting of a linear perfluoroalkane chain, a branched perfluoroalkanechain, a cyclized perfluoroalkane chain, an aromatic perfluoroalkanechain, and mixtures thereof, and wherein said perfluoroalkane chain isbound to an alkoxy group having between 1 and 7 carbon atoms, whereinsaid composition is used as a cosmetic composition.
 2. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein said hydrofluoro ether has a boiling pointat atmospheric pressure of between +15° C. and +100° C.
 3. Thecomposition according to claim 2, wherein said alkoxy group of saidhydrofluoro ether has between 1 and 5 carbon atoms.
 4. The compositionaccording to claim 2, wherein said hydrofluoro ether has a boiling pointat atmospheric pressure of between +30° C. and +80° C.
 5. Thecomposition according to claim 3, wherein said hydrofluoro ether ischosen from the group consisting of methoxy-nonafluorobutane (C₄F₉OCH₃),its isomer ((CF₃)CFCF₂OCH₃), ethoxy-nonafluorobutane (C₄F₉OC₂H₅), itsisomer ((CF₃)₂CFCF₂OC₂H₅), and propoxy-undecafluoropentane (C₅F₁₁OC₃H₇).6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein it includes at leastone co-solvent.
 7. The composition according to claim 6, wherein saidco-solvent is chosen from the group consisting of ethanol and water. 8.The composition according to claim 1, wherein said aromatic compound ischosen from the group consisting of the essential oils, natural orsynthetic fragrances and resins oils.